APR joins Canada Plastics Pact

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, has joined the Ottawa, Ontario-based Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), which aims to eliminate plastic waste and pollution by bringing together businesses, government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other key stakeholders in the Canadian plastics value chain.

The APR says the two organizations share the common goal of creating a circular plastics economy, where plastic is kept in the economy and out of people, animals and the environment. The APR will join CPP’s more than 98 partners from across the plastics value chain that are taking steps to eliminate what they deem unnecessary and problematic plastics, redesign packaging and bolster their usage of recycled plastic.

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“The Canada Plastics Pact is helping to shape important discussions on the management of postconsumer plastics and convening leaders across the value chain committed to solutions,” APR President and CEO Steve Alexander says. “APR’s tools and resources are endorsed and aligned internationally. This partnership is part of larger harmonization efforts across the globe including APR’s work to align North America’s design for recyclability guidance with Europe’s RecyClass. By working together, we will help achieve an effective and robust plastics recycling system in Canada and beyond.”

The CPP is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact network, a globally designed response to plastic waste and pollution that enables knowledge sharing and coordinated action. The CPP says that while it is complementary to, and follows the precedents set by the existing global network of plastics pacts, it is tailored to meet the unique needs and challenges of the Canadian market. The CPP adds that the pact reflects Canadian priorities and realities, while still moving closer to other developed nations in its management of plastic waste.

“As CPP partners commit to driving innovation and scalable actions that will result in less plastic packaging overall and easier-to-recycle plastic packaging, our goal is to align as much as possible with the U.S. for a unified circular approach to packaging design throughout North America,” says Cher Mereweather, managing director at the CPP. “The inclusion of APR in our collaborative efforts is a significant step towards accelerating plastics recyclability by including their technical guidance and expertise for package design.”

As a CPP partner, the APR has agreed to provide its industry perspective and technical expertise to support the CPP in meeting its goals. The APR also is a founding activator and advisory council member of the U.S. Plastics Pact.